A Critical Role From Child Growth to Adult Health Growth Hormone

Growth hormone（GH） is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the human pituitary gland, consisting of 191 amino acids. It promotes the growth of bones, internal organs, and the whole body, facilitates protein synthesis, and affects fat and mineral metabolism, playing a crucial role in human growth and development.

It is secreted by growth hormone cells located in the pituitary gland, and its secretion is mainly regulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin released from the hypothalamus. In addition, factors such as sufficient sleep, blood glucose concentration, nicotine, dopamine, and various other factors have been reported to affect the secretion of growth hormone. During adolescent development, our brain secretes 1 to 2 milligrams of growth hormone per day.

How does GH work?

Mechanistically, growth hormone primarily acts on fat cells and the liver. After reaching the target tissues through blood circulation, growth hormone first binds to a growth hormone receptor on the cell membrane, and then binds to another growth hormone receptor to form a receptor dimer for structural stability. This subsequently activates the transmission of the downstream JAK2 signaling pathway.

In liver cells, JAK2 activated by growth hormone phosphorylates the STAT family. Once activated, the STAT family enters the nucleus and begins transcribing a very important growth factor, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), also known as Somatomedin C, which is crucial for body growth.

The secretion cycle of growth hormone

It is secreted once every 3-4 hours, with about 6-8 pulses throughout the day, but the peak of secretion is from 9 pm to 1 am.

Symptoms related to the level of GH

While GH is oversecreted, some symptoms might occur, including:

◆Gigantism

◆Acromegaly

While lacking GH , some symptoms might occur, including:

◆Dwarfism

◆Depression

◆Fractures

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